Tool rack



Feb. 28, 1956 TOOL RACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 50, 1953 n, w mm\mWm M, t z n MW F m a E w w 6 m M m. w m F N u w v M .W .w .wEEEEEEEEEEEEKKQ w. m Q 1 M w m w W. a o h imm mmk w u M m m. 6 EEEEEEEEEEEKKKK U 2 i:

2 Feb. 28, 1956 w FADDEN, JR I I 2,736,628

TOOL RACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1953 Walter E. Fadden,Jr.

. INVENTOR.

1956 w. E. FADDEN, JR

TOOL RACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 50, 1953 8V W F k W W g M w Fig. 5

United States Patent F TOOL RACK Walter E. Fadden, Jr., Santa Monica,Calif.

Application November 30, 1953, Serial No. 395,186

1 Claim. (Cl. 312-305) This invention relates in general to improvementsin tool racks, and more specifically to a tool rack especially designedfor holding optical lapping tools.

In the average optical grinding shop, it is necessary to have on hand alarge number of different sets of lapping tools in order that thevarious optic surfaces may be ground. Further, inasmuch as these lappingtools are intended for certain optical surfaces, it is necessary thatthey be readily identified and found. Therefore, it is the primaryobject of this invention to provide an improved tool rack which may beutilized for the supporting of optical lapping tools which will supportsuch optical lapping tools in such a manner so that the desired set oflapping tools may be readily picked out from the rack with a minimum ofloss of time and at a minimum of effort.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tool rack ofthe rotary type which includes a cylindrical main frame member supportedprimarily at its base, the main frame member being in the form of acircular track which is rotatably mounted on wheels to facilitaterotation thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tool rackwhich is of a relatively simple construction and which is so designed soas to carry a maximum number of tools in a confined space so as to beboth space saving and economical in initial cost.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved tool rackwhich includes racks rotatably mounted within a housing, the housingbeing provided with means for selectively rotating the racks wherebycertain of the tool receptacles thereof may be aligned with openings inthe housing to permit removal of the tools from the tool rack.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved toolrack in the form of a rotatable drum mounted in a housing, both the drumand the housing being provided with identifying indicia whereby each ofthe tool receptacles of the drum may be readily identified.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a front perspective of the tool rack which is the subiect ofthis invention and shows the general outline thereof;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through thetool rack of Figure l and shows the general construction of the interiorthereof, one of the revolving racks being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line' 3-3 of Figure 2 and showsthe manner in which the revolving racks are supported with respect tothe bottom wall of the housing and the guide means for selectivelyrotating the same;

2,736,628 Patented Feb. 28, 1956 Figure 4 is a transverse horizontalsectional view taken through one of the revolving racks and shows thegeneral arrangement of the tool receptacles thereof;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of Figure 3 and showsthe relationship of drive means for the revolving racks; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takenthrough the forward portion of the housing and shows the manner in whichan auxiliary crank is mounted.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated the improved tool rack which is the subject of thisinvention. The tool rack includes a housing which is referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 10. The housing 10 includes a generallyrectangular bottom wall 12 which has extending upwardly therefrom agenerally rectangular shell 14. The shell 14 is provided at the sidesthereof with removable panels 16. Also, if so desired, the shell 14 maybe provided with a rearpanel (not shown). It will be understood that theshell 14 is removably secured to the bottom wall 12. The housing 10 alsoincludes a top wall 18 which is carried by the shell 14.

The housing 10 is seated on a base which is referred to in general bythe reference numeral 20. The base 20 includes a bottom wall 22 andupstanding peripheral walls 24. Carried by the bottom wall 22 of thebase 20 are removable casters 26. It will be understood that the casters26 are optional, depending on whether it is desired to permanentlyposition the housing 10 or whether it is necessary to move the housing10 from one place to another.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 in particular, it will be seen thatthere is carried by the housing 10 within the interior thereof a pair ofrevolving racks, each rack being referred to in general by the referencenumeral 28. Inasmuch as the two racks 28 are identical, only one of theracks will be described in detail.

Each rack 28 includes a cylindrical main frame member 30 which extendsvertically. The cylindrical main frame member 30 has mounted concentrictherewith a driven shaft 32. The driven shaft 32 is drivingly connectedto its associated main frame member 30 by a plurality of verticallyspaced spiders 34. Closing the upper end of the main frame member 30 isa cover portion 36 which extends through and overlies the housing 10,the upper portion of the main frame member 30 projecting through acircular opening 38 in the top wall 18 of the housing 10.

It will be noted that carried by the bottom wall 12 of the housing is aset of circumferentially arranged, U- shaped supports 40 for each of therevolving racks 28. Each of the supports 40 has carried at the upper endthereof a pair of wheels 42. it will be understood that the wheels 42for each set of supports 40 are circumferentialiy arranged. The wheels42 are of the type intended to engage a track. However, instead of thewheels 42 running along a track, the lower edge of the cylindrical mainframe member 30 is carried by the wheels 42 for rotation within thehousing 10.

Carried by the bottom wall 12 centrally of the associated set ofsupports 40 is a bearing member 44. Journaled in the bearing member 44is the lower end of the driven shaft 32. The upper end of the drivenshaft 32 is connected to the underside of the cover portion 36 by asuitable collar 46.

Each of the revolving racks 28 includes a plurality of verticallyextending, circumferentially spaced partitions 48, the partitions 48extending radially from the outer surface of the main frame member 30.Extending between and interconnecting the partitions 48 are concentric,arcuate rods 50 which are horizontally disposed and circumferentiallyspaced so as to provide on the other surface of the main frame member 30a plurality of vertically and circumferentially spaced tool receptacles52. It will be understood that each of the tool receptacles 52 is of asize to receive a pair of optical lapping tools, such as the opti- Callapping tools 54 illustrated in Figure 2. it will also be noted that therods 5b are so spaced so as to receive the optical lapping tools 54 andsupport them within their respective tool receptacles 52.

Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that the frontwall of the shell 14 is provided with a vertically extending row ofopenings 56 for each of the revolving racks 28. By selectivelypositioning each of the revolving racks 23 with respect to the openings56, it will be seen that the desired optical lapping tools 54 may beremoved from their respective tool receptacles 52. In order that thedesired optical lapping tools 54 may be quickly found, the openings 56are identified by first indicia 53. The indicia 58 identifies thehorizontal rows of tool receptacles 52.

The upper part of the rack 28 which extends through and above thehousing 19 is provided with circumferentially spaced second indicia 61The indicia 60 identifies the vertical rows of tool receptacles 52.Thus, it will be seen that the individual tool receptacles 52 may bequickly identified by revolving the racks 28 until the desired verticalrows of tool receptacles 52 are aligned with the openings 56 through theuse of the arrow 62 and the second indicia 60. Then, by selecting thedesired one of the vertical openings 56 through the use of the firstindicia 53, the desired tool receptacle 52 is found.

In order to facilitate the selective positioning and to tation of therevolving racks 28, the housing 19 is provided with a verticallyextending drive shaft 64 which is positioned centrally of the housingbetween the two rcvolving racks 28. The drive shaft 6-! is rotatablycarried by a bearing 66 secured to the bottom wall 12 and a verticallyaligned bearing 68 carried by the underside of the top wall 13. Thedrive shaft 64 is provided adjacent its lower end with a ring gear '79which is meshed with a pinion gear 72. As is best illustrated in Figure3, the pinion gear 72 is carried by an output shaft 74 of a reductiongear unit 76. The reduction gear unit 76 includes an input shaft 73which is coupled to an electric motor 8%) whereby the electric motor Shmay be utilized to rotate the drive shaft 64 at a relatively slow speed.Carried by each of the driven shafts 32 adjacent their lower ends aresprockets S2. The sprockets 82 are horizontally aligned and areconnected together by a drive chain 84. Carried by the drive shaft 64 isa sprocket 86 which also engages the drive chain 34. Thus, it will beseen that when the electric motor 89 is energized, the revolving rack 28will be revolved within the housing.

In order to control the revolving of the racks 28, there is provided aswitch 88 for the electric motor 80. The switch 88 is controlled by alever 511 which is terminally pivoted to a mounting bracket 92 carriedby the bottom wall 12. The arm 90 passes through a centrally locatedopening 94 in the front wall. of the shell 14 and has mounted on theouter end thereof a suitable foot engageable pedal 96. The arm isretained in an uppermost position by a coil spring 98 which rests uponthe bottom wall 12. The bottom wall 12 is also provided with a stop 1&0which is adjustable and which is engageable with the arm 90 to limitdownward pivoting thereof. It will be seen that the switch 88 isconnected to the electric motor fit) by a suitable electric wire 102.

The electric motor Si! is provided with a lead-in wire 104 Whose freeend is provided with an electric plug 106 which may be plugged into anyconventional electrical receptaclc. Inasmuch as the distance of thehousing from an electrical receptacle may vary, the lead-in wire 104 ismounted on a reel 110 which automatically rewinds the unnecessaryportion of the lead-in wire 104.

In order that the revolving racks 28 may be selectively positioned inthe case of a power failure, there is provided a crank 112. The crank112 is provided with a handle 114 which is positioned forwardly of theshell 14, as is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 5. The handle iscarried by a U-shaped mounting bracket 116 secured to the rear of thefront wall of the shell 14. The connection between the mounting bracket116 and the front wall of the shell 14 is reinforced by a plate 118. Theplate 113 together with one flange of the mounting bracket 116 and theportion of the shell 14 disposedtherebetwecn forms a first bearing forthe crank 112. A second bearing for the crank 112, which is in spacedrelation with respect to the first bearing, is formed by a pair ofplates 120 secured to a second flange of the mounting bracket 116 incombination therewith.

The innermost end of the crank 112 is provided with a pinion gear 122which is engageable with a ring gear 124 secured to the drive shaft 64intermediate its ends. The pinion gear 122 is normally retained out ofengagement with the ring gear 124 by a coil spring 126. The coil spring126 engages the plate 113 and a stop member 128 on the crank 112 to urgethe crank 112 forwardly to move the pinion gear 122 out of engagementwith the ring gear 124. If desired, the crank 112 may be mounted in sucha manner so as to be entirely removable.

In view of the foregoing-it will be seen that there has been illustratedand described a novel rack construction which may be utilized to mount amultiplicity of optical lapping tools or other tools which must bereadily identifled in such a manner so that the tools can be readilyidentified. Also, it will be seen that the structure of the rack is suchthat the desired tool receptacles may be quickly and easily positionedin the proper places for the removal or the insertion of tools carriedthereby.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A tool rack comprising a housing, a plurality of circumferentiallyarranged supports in said housing, circumfercntially arranged wheelscarried by said supports, a rack in said housing, said rack having acylindrical main frame member, said main frame member having a loweredge thereof seated on said wheels for rotation, said main frame memberhaving a plurality of vertically extending spaced partitions securedthereto, a plurality of concentric annularly spaced arcuate horizontallyextending rods secured to said partitions and forming with saidpartitions a plurality of circumferentially and vertically spaced toolreceptacles, a plurality of vertically aligned openings in said housing,means for rotating said rack to selectively align said receptacles withsaid openings, first indicia on said housing identifying said openings,said rack having a cover portion extending through and above saidhousing holding said rack in a vertical position in said housing, andsecond indicia on said cover portion identifying vertical rows of toolreceptacles, said first and second indicia facilitating theidentification of each individual tool receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS393,149 Gates Nov. 20, 1888 (Other references on following page) 5UNITED STATES PATENTS Zettier July 9, 1889 Conkliu Mar. 28, 1905 CawleyJuly 16, 1912 Meyer Jan. 18, 1916 Malsin Sept. 9, 1924 Moller Mar. 9,1926 6 Pekrol Sept. 6, 1938 Slezak Sept. 10, 1940 Morrill May 13, 1947Rourke et a1. June 10, 1952 Long et a1. Nov. 11, 1952 Rossman Dec. 16,1952

